My lab addresses questions related to the evolution, ecology, development and conservation of flowering plants and their communities. One focus of my research explores the conditions that favor or maintain both outcross and self-pollination within populations and species (mixed mating) 
including the pollination environment and inbreeding depression. We are testing the long-standing idea that selfing is an evolutionary dead-end using the genus Collinsia, an excellent model system. For the past two years (2005-07) I co-led a working group at National Evolution Synthesis Center (NESCent) on the Paradox of Mixed Mating in Flowering Plants. Related to the evolution of selfing, I investigate the development of male and female phases within a flower, which influences the timing of selfing within a flower and exploring the role of genes in the floral symmetry gene network in gender phase expression development. My second major focus is the role of herbivory on population and community dynamics of forest understory herbaceous species. This research addresses the dynamics of palatable vs. unpalatable species and the role of white-tailed deer and invasive species in the destabilization of mutualisms, populations, and communities. I also have long-standing, long-term research projects on the evolution of seed dormancy.
News
Undergrad Aaron Cantor has been awarded a Rotary Ambassador Fellowship for this summer, during which he will work on a project at the University of Queensland that aims to determine the mechanism of action of an anti-cancer compound isolated from an Australian plant and its efficacy against several human cancer types.
Alison Hale was selected for a Botany-in-Action research fellowship award by the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Garden in March 2010.
Alison Hale was selected for a Mellon Fellowship for the 2010-2011 academic year by the University of Pittsburgh.
Nathan Brouwer received an Outstanding Poster award at the 2010 University of Pittsburgh A&S Grad Expo for his poster "The One-Two Punch: Deer Herbivory and Invasive Plants knock out Populations of a Native Forest Wildflower."
Kalisz, S., A.M. Randle D. Chaiffetz, M. Faigeles, A. Butera, C. Beight. 2012. Dichogamy correlates with outcrossing rate and defines the selfing syndrome in the mixed mating genus, Collinsia. (Invited paper) Annals of Botany doi:10.1093/aob/mcr237
Hale, A.N., S.J. Tonsor, and S. Kalisz. 2011. Testing the mutualism disruption hypothesis: a physiological mechanism for invasion of intact perennial plant communities. Ecosphere 2:110. doi:10.1890/ES11-00136.1
Winn, A. A., E. Elle, S. Kalisz., P.-O.Cheptou, C. G. Eckert, C. Goodwillie, M. O. Johnston, D. A. Moeller, R. H. Ree, R. D. Sargent, and M. Vallejo-Marin. 2011. Analysis of inbreeding depression I mixed mating plants provides evidence for selective interference and stable mixed mating. Perspectives paper in Evolution 65: 3339–3644.
(PDF Reprint: 1.05MB)Cantor, A., J. Aaron, A. Hale, B. Traw, and S. Kalisz. 2011. Low allelochemical concentrations detected in garlic mustard-invaded forest soils inhibit fungal growth and AMF spore germination. Biological Invasions doi: 10.1007/s10530-011-9986-x
(PDF Reprint: 627KB)
Baldwin, B.G., S. Kalisz, and W.S. Armbruster. 2011. Phylogenetic perspectives on diversification, diversity, and phytogeography of Collinsia and Tonella (Plantaginaceae). American Journal of Botany 98:731-753.
(PDF Reprint: 1.5MB)Burke, D., M. Weintraub, C. Hewins, and S. Kalisz. 2010. Relationship between soil enzyme activities, nutrient cycling and soil fungal communities in a northern hardwood forest. Soil Biology and Biochemistry accepted.
Whitney, K.D., E.J. Baack, J.L. Hamrick, M.J.W. Godt, B.C. Barringer, M.D. Bennett, C.G. Eckert, C. Goodwillie, S. Kalisz, I.J. Leitch and J. Ross-Ibarra. 2010. A role for nonadaptive processes in plant genome size evolution? Evolution 64:2097-2109.
(PDF Reprint: 872KB)Goodwillie, C., R.D. Sargent, C.G. Eckert, E. Elle, M.A. Geber, M.O. Johnston, S. Kalisz, D.A. Moeller, R.H. Ree, M. Vallejo-Marin and A.A. Winn. 2010. Correlated evolution of mating system and floral display traits in flowering plants and its implications for the distribution of mating system variation. New Phytologist 185:311-321.
(PDF Reprint: 508KB)Eckert, C.G., S. Kalisz, M.A. Geber, R. Sargent, E. Elle, P.O. Cheptou, C. Goodwillie, M.O. Johnston, J.K. Kelly, D.A. Moeller, E. Porcher, R.H. Ree, M. Vallejo-Marin and A.A. Winn. 2010. Plant mating systems in a changing world. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 25:35-43.
(PDF Reprint: 496KB)Heckel, C.D., N.A. Bourg, W.J. McShea and S. Kalisz. 2010. Nonconsumptive effects of a generalist ungulate herbivore drive decline of unpalatable forest herbs. Ecology 91:319-326.
(PDF Reprint: 192KB)
Affiliations
NESCent working group on the Paradox of Mixed Mating in Flowering Plants
NESCent National Evolutionary Synthesis Center
NSF Research Coordination Network MORPH
NCEAS National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis
Courses
Population Biology - BIOSC 1320
This is a course in the scientific study of the distribution and abundances of animal and plant populations. The course will begin with the dynamics of single populations, emphasizing demography, exponential growth, and intra-specific competition. Next we will cover interactions between populations, especially competition and predations. Finally we will consider the implications of population dynamics to the evolution of life history strategies, to population regulation, and to community structure. Throughout, empirical studies of natural and laboratory populations will be used to test mathematical models of population processes.
Evolution - BIOSC 1130
This course is an introduction to biological evolution. The theory, process and pattern of evolutionary change are presented. This course will encompass both microevolutionary and macroevolutionary concepts. Lecture topics will include inheritance and variation, population genetics, natural selection, speciation, adaptation, the fossil record, and phylogenetics.
